Spacing apparatus for punch presses and the like



Jan. 29, 1935. L. E. ANDERSON SPACING APPARATUS FOR PUNCH PRESSES ANDTHE LIKE Filed April 16, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 29, 1935. E.ANDERSON SPACING APPARATUS FOR PUNCH PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Aprii16, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 QOOOOQOUQQ Q Jan. 29, 1935. 1.. E. ANDERSON1,989,071

SPACING APPARATUS FOR PUNCH PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 3 J 1935- E. ANDERSON 1,989,071

SPACING APPARATUS FOR PUNCH PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 4 4 Ii i| Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED-STATES PATENTOFFICE- SPACING APPARATUS FOR PUNCH PBESSES AND THE LIKE Lloyd E.Anderson, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Pittsburgh Des Moines SteelCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., in copartnership composed of William H.Jackson, Ruth Jackson, and George A.

Smith Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,819 (01. 164-116) tusfor punch presses or other machines for performing operations at spacedpoints on'structuralbars or other types of work, which eliminates thenecessity of having an individual pattern of substantially the length ofthe work foreach group or bars on which the same spacing of holes is tobe punched or other operation is to he performed.

A further object is to provide a template being substantially as long asone unit of length used and having sub-divisions of such unit thereon inlaterally spaced positions or in columns, one column for each successiveunit, whereby a card with quarter inch columns, for instance, can beprovided of slightly greater than one foot length and nine inches width,sub-divisions of the feet of a foot bar to be punched can be indicatedthereon.

Still another object is to provide an index bar which can be used forpieces or" work of various characteristics and requiring various punchoperations or the like, in conjunction with diii erent templates for"cars requiring difierent punch operations, the index bar being movablewith the work and the template being movable simultaneously with theindex bar but at right angles to it so that periodic indicia on theindex bar pass across the face of the template, each one in a differentlaterally spaced column thereon, sub-divisions or the unit of lengthbetween successive indicia on the index bar being indicated in thevarious columns 01 the template so that when sub-divisions and indiciaregister with each other, either the operator brings the work to restand operates'the punch press or the like, or automatic mechanismaccomplishes these two functions.

with these and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydean apparatus em- Figure-iisasectionalviewonthelineH.

of Figure 3 showing a template card, its holder and mechanism for movingthe holder.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 showingmechanism for moving an index bar of my apparatus.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing a planview of the parts shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams 'of a template card and index bar indifferent relative positions.

Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of an angle bar on whichpunching operations have been performed.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of my apparatus including automaticmechanism for stopping the movement of the work through the machine andcausing the machine to operate.

Figure '11 is a diagram partly in plan view of Figure 10 and partlyelectrical, showing the association of the automatic mechanism of Fig-fFigure 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 of Figure 10 showingdetails of construction.

Figure 13 shows a portion of Figure 10 with the parts, in a difl'erentposition.

Figure 14 is a sectional perspective view of a modified form oftemplate.

Figure 15 is an electrical diagrammatic plan view of the same showinghow it is used.

Figure 16 is a plan view similar to Figure 1 showing a modifiedconstruction in which an index bar is stationary and a template moveswith the work.

Figure-1'7 is a front elevation of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a sectional view on the line 18-18 of Figure 1'1.

Figure 19 is a'plan view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form 01the invention in which a steel tape is substituted for the index bar ofFigure 1. Figure 20 is a front elevation of Figure 19,

partly in section, as taken on the line 20-20 of Figure 19; and

Figure 21 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 21-21 of Figure 19showing a wind-up device for the steel tape.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10to-indicate generally a punch press. 'My apparatus, as illustrated, is

designed for apunch press, but as my description proceeds, it will beobvious that it is also applicable to machines for performing otheroperations, such as marking, riveting, welding or the like on materialssuch as structural steel.

Thcpunch press 10 includes a punch 12 and an operating pedal 14. 3mconjunction with the punch press 10, a track or the like 16 is providedfor supporting work, an angle bar being illustrated at 18. The support16, as illustrated. includes rollers 20 along which the bar can roll sothat holes can be punched at difierent points throughout the length ofthe bar.

My spacing apparatus includes an index bar 2 having an extension 24which can be clamped as by a set screw 26 to the bar 18 or other work onwhich operations are to be performed. The index bar 22 is supported on acarriage 28 adapted to travel along a track 30. From the constructionjust described, it is obvious that the work 18 may travel along thetrack 16 and the index bar 22 along the track 30 simultaneously or insynchronism with each other.

For moving the index bar and thereby the work 18, mechanism may beprovided in any desired form. As illustrated on the drawings, a rack bar32 is secured to the bottom of the index bar 22 and meshes with a gear34 which can be rotated. either by a hand wheel 36 or the powermechanism for the punch press 10.

The punch press has inherent in it, of course, rotating shafts and thelike and I have shown a clutch 38 for connecting a shaft 40 with ordisconnecting it from the power driven mechanism of the punch press. Theshaft 40 is connected by sprockets and a chain 42 to the gear 34, acontrol rod 44 being provided for the clutch 38. By this arrangement,the work 18 can be quickly moved by engaging the clutch 38 to theapproximate position where a hole is to be punched in the work 18 andcan then be brought to the exact position by the hand wheel 36.

The index bar 22 has thereon periodically spaced indicia indicated as 0,1, 2, etc. These are spaced any desired unit of distance apart as forinstance one foot. In conjunction, with the indicia, a template card 46is used.

The'template card 46 is supported on a tem plate holder 48 of plate-likeconstruction which may be provided with flanges 50 for accuratelypositioning the template card 46 with respect thereto. A spring clip 52can also be used for holding the card 46 in position. The templateholder 48 has an extension 54 slidably mounted in a vertical guidemember 56 so that the tem- ,plate holder can move at substantially rightangles to the index bar 22.

The template holder 48 is to be vertically moved simultaneously with thelongitudinal horizontal movement of the index bar 22. This can beaccomplished in a number of different ways and by way of illustration, Ihave shown a series of vertically spaced pins 58 on the extension 54with whichspiral flanges 60 coast. The spiral flanges 60 extend from agear 62 which meshes with the rack bar 32. They are adapted to ensue thepins 58'successively for lowering the template holder 48 when the indexbar 22 moves in one direction and raising it when the index bar moves inan opposite direction.

There is one flange 60 for each foot of length of the index bar 22.Thus, by providing three flanges, rotation of the gear 62 must beproportioned so that it rotates once for each three feet of travel ofthe index bar.

The template 46 has a plurality of vertically spaced columns thereon,one for each foot of length of the index bar orfor each unit of lengthbetween successive indicia on the index bar. The columns are preferablyslightly slanted from the horizontal as thetemplate holder is movedlaterally of the index bar while moving in synchronism with itslongitudinal movement and it is desirable for the indicia of the indexbar to be maintained in alignment with the horizontal lines of thetemplatewhich separate the columns thereon.

In the operation of my spacing apparatus, a card 46 is first marked bythe operator for the different spacings at which holes are to be punchedin the work 18. For instance, the card shown in Figures 7 and 8 ismarked for holes to be punched at a corresponding to 1 foot 4%, inches,at 22 corresponding to 1 foot 6 inches, at 0 corresponding to 2 feet 1inch and at d corresponding to 3 feet 6 inches. The number of inches ismeasured in the proper column toward the left from the line 64 with aruler, those for between 1 and 2 feet in the second column and so on,the vertical marks a, b, c and :1 being drawn with pencil or ink.

The 'entire' card can be conveniently marked by the operator sitting atone position in contrast to walking the full length of a pattern asgenerally used and marking the feet and inches along its length. Thissaves much time and efiort and also saves considerable material asinexpensive card-- boards can be used rather than expensive strips oflumber. Also the cardboards can be flied for future repetitions of thesame piece of work much more conveniently than strips of lumber can besaved for this purpose.

In operating the punch press with my spacing apparatus, the operatormoves the index bar 22 toward the left until the 1 foot indicia (whichwill coincide with the line between 9 and 1 on the index card throughoutthe travel of the indicia across the card) coincides with thesub-division a. The work is brought to rest at this point and theoperator then presses the pedal 14 for punching a hole and such holewill be exactly 1 foot spacing as required and when other bars are to bepunched with different spacings, the card 46 is removed and another onehaving the proper s'ub-divisionsmarked thereon is readily inserted.

On some pieces of o'rk, as for instance angles, each'leg is to be punced with holes of diflerent spacings.

at A distance from the corner of the angle and dotted lines e-or linesof a diiferent color for the holes E distance from the corner of theangle shown in Figure 9. If three or more sets of openings are to bepunched, additional lines such as This can be indicated on the same cardas solid lines like a, b, c and d for the holes the dash line I or linesof still diiferent colors can be used for the holes F distance from thecomer of the angle or for diflerent size holes on the same center line,the punch 12 being changed after one size has been punched. Thus ononetemplate card, a. great number of diilerent spacings for the samepiece of work can be indicated.

It is possible to make the spacing apparatus operate automatically bycompressed air, electricity, or the like and in Figures 10, 11, 12 and13 I have -shown one embodiment of automatic means for this purpose.

The index bar-22 is provided with a flange 66- having openings 68therein rather than indicia. The template card 46 also openings thereinas at '70 instead of the indicating marks as a, 17, etc. A source oflight such as an elongated electric light globe 72 casts light throughthe openings 68 and through the openings 70 when they register with eachother. The light falls on a refiector '73 and then on a light sensitivebulb such as a photo electric cell 74 or falls directly on the cell forclosing a circuit through wires '76 of an amplifier 78. The amplifier,upon being energized by light falling on thephoto cell 74, energizes asolenoid for attracting an armature 82.

The armature 82 has a pin 84 engageable with a spring catch arm 86 ofthe punch press which travels simultaneously with the punch 12. Uponenergization, the solenoid 80 thereby causes a rod 88 to be released sothat a weight 90 thereon is free to move downwardly by gravity.

This breaks the circuit to a solenoid 92 which retains a clutch 38aengaged. The clutch 38a is for moving the index bar 22a so that when thesolenoid is energized, the bar will move, but when tie-energized, theclutch is disengaged and the bar stops. Contacts 94 are provided in thecircuit of the solenoid 92, one of the contacts, being carried by therod 88.

When the weight 90 lowers, a collar 89 on the rod 88 engages and swingsa gripper lever 96 about its pivot 98whioh extends from a bracket 99.The gripper lever 96 has a shoe 100 for frictional engagement with thebar 22. A second gripper shoe 102 is provided for movement toward thebar 22 by means of a link 104 pivoted to the lever 96.

The shoes 100 and 102 are mounted on rods 106 which are slidably mountedin blocks 108, which in turn are pivoted by pintles 110 mounted instationary bearings 112 of the bracket 99. Springs 114 are provided onthe rods 106 to act as shock absorbers and returning devices.

In operation, when the shoes 100 and 102 grip the bar 22, its' movementis checked with the springs 114 acting as shock absorbers. As soon asthe bar is stopped, it is returned to prope position by the springs 114so that momentum ending to carry the bar 18 beyond the proper point forpunching the hole is counteracted by the springs 114 acting in theirreturn capacity.

The weight 90 is adapted to initiate operation of the punch press 10,which can be accomplished by a solenoid 116 and an armature 118connected with the clutch lever 14a of the punch press.

Contacts 120 are provided for the solenoid 116 and these are designed tobe engaged by a roller 122 on the downstroke of the weight 90 and thendisengaged after such engagement.

On the upstroke of the weight 90, the roller 122 being mounted on a leafspring 124 or the like will spring past the contacts 120 without causingtheir engagement. 9 v

From the description of Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, it will be obviousthat the holes in the work are automatically punched atthe properpoints. Registry 01' an index bar opening 68 with a template opening -70automatically stops the movement ofthe work and initiates operation ofthe punch and when the punch returns to its raised .position, the catchon the lower'end of the arm 88 engages the catch on the upper end of therod 88 for lifting the weight 90 and thus releasing the shoes 100 and102 from the work 22, after which the contacts 94 are engaged forengaging the clutch 38a and thus moving the work to the next positionpredetermined by registry of the next opening IO-of the template withthe proper opening 68 of the index bar.

The light sensitive cell 74 and its associated apparatus, including theamplifier 78, can be eliminated by the'use of the modified form oftemplate shown in Figure 14 and the mechanism shown in Figure 15 forenergizing the magnet 80. Instead of marks on or openings through thetemplate, metallic elements 126 are used .which extend through thetemplate for establishing an electric circuit,

The holder for the template shown'at 48a in Figure. 15 has a metal plate128 with which the contacts 126 engage. The index bar 221) is providedwith contacts 22c which'engage the appropriate staples or contacts 126,thus establishing a circuit across the plate 128 and the bar 22b. Theseparts are included in the circuit of the magnet 80 so that directcontact causes an electrical impulse therein to start the automaticoperation of stopping the work, operating the press and then againstarting the work, all as accomplished by the magnets 80, 92 and 116 andtheir associated mechanism shown in Figure 11.

Although I have shown the index bar as being movable with the work, theindex bar may be stationary and the template may move with the work andthe index bar may be in the form of a. steel tape or the like if founddesirable.

In Figures 16 to 21, I have shown these two forms-of the invention.Parts in Figures 16, 17 and 18 corresponding to parts in Figure 1 aregiven the same reference numerals .with the addition of while in Figures19, 20 and 21, the reference numerals have the addition 01 In Figure 16,it will be noted that the index bar 22 is stationarily mountd as bybrackets 130 extending from the frame. The template holder 48' ismovable with the work, the extension 24' clamped at 26 to the work 18'being carried by a carriage 13 2supported for movement longitudinally ofthe index bar 22' and a rail 134. Rotation of the hand wheel36 moves thetemplate and the work relative to the stationary index bar rather thanthe index bar and the work relative to the stationary template as inFigure 1, but the results obtained are the same.

In Figures 19, 20 and 21, the index element 22" is a flexible elementsuch as a steel tape which can be normally housed in a casing 136 byreason of a wind-up spring 138. The tape of Figure 19 takes the place ofthe index bar of Figure 1 in order to eliminate the extension oftheindex bar toward the right past the punch press as in- Figure 19. It,of course, extends no further toward the right than the housing 136.

Changes of this character and others may be I made in the constructionand arrangement of the parts of my-device without departing from thereal spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to coverby my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanicalequivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In spacing apparatus for punch presses and the li ke, an indexelement having unitsoi. length indicated thereon, a spacer elementhaving subdivisions of one such unit indicated thereon, one

of said elements being adapted to travel in synchronism with materialbeing worked upon and means for moving said spacer element in accordancewith the movement of said index element relative thereto wherebysuccessive indicia on the index element travel in one direction acrosssaid spacer element and at successively different distances from an edgethereof substantially parallel with the line of such travel.

2. In spacing apparatus for material requiring operations to beperformed thereon at spaced points, an elongated index bar, adapted totravel in synchronism with the material being worked upon, said indexbar having equal units of length indicated therealong, a card-likespacer template having sub-divisions of one such unit indicated thereonand means for moving said template in accordance with the movement ofsaid index bar whereby successive indicia on the bar travel across saidtemplate, each'at adifferent distance from one side thereof.

3. In spacing apparatus for punch presses and the like, an index barelement having units of length indicated thereon, a spacer templateelement of substantially the length of one such unit and havingsub-divisions of such unit indicated thereon, means for moving one ofsaid elements in synchronism with material being worked upon and meansfor moving said spacer template ele: ment and said index bar elementrelatively whereby successive indicia on the index bar element travelacross said spacer template element, each at a different distance fromone side thereof.

4. In combination with a punch press or the like, spacing apparatuscomprising an index element having units of length indicated thereon, aspacer element having sub-divisions of one such unit indicated thereon,means for moving one of said elements in synchronism ith material beingworked upon by said punch pre whereby successive indicia on the indexelement travel across said spacer element in one direction, supportingmeans for said spacer element and an operative connection between saidindex element and said spacer element for moving them relatively andsynchronously but in a direction at angles relative to each other.

5. In spacing apparatus for punch presses and the like, an index elementhaving units of length indicated thereon, a spacer element havingsubdivisions of one such unit indicated thereon, means for moving saidspacer element in accordance .with the movement of said index element,power means for operating said punch press and moving one of saidelements and material being worked upon in synchronism with each other,a control means for said punch press, a second control means for saidindex element and material, both with respect to said power means andautomatic mechanism for rendering the first control means operative andthe second control means inoperative when one of the indicia on saidindex element registers with one of said sub-divisions on said spacerelement. *1.

6. In spacing apparatus of the class described a longitudinaly movableindex element adapted to travel in synchronism with material be workedupon, units of length indicated on said index element, a spacer elementof at least the length of one such unit, sub-divisions of the successiveunits indicated thereon in successively lateraly spaced columns andmeans for moving said spacer element simultaneously with the movement ofsaid index element and at substantially right angles to said columnswhereby successive indicia on said index element travel along saidcolumns successively and whereby a sub-division in a given columncoincides with only a'predetermined one of said indicia.

'1. In spacing apparatus of the class described, a

longitudinally movable 'index bar adapted to.

'll htravel in synchronism with material being worked upon, units ofequal length indicated on said index bar, a spacer template,sub-divisions of the successive units indicated thereon in successivelylongitudinally and laterally, spaced positions and means for moving saidtemplate simultaneously with the movement of said index bar and atsubstantially right angles to its direction of movement wherebysuccessive indicia thereon travel across said template in one directionwith successive longitudinally spaced sub-divisions thereof coincidingwith one indicia and laterally spaced and successive longitudinallyspaced subdivisions thereof coinciding with another indicia.

8. In spacing apparatus of the class described, an index element, unitsof length indicated thereon, a spacer element of at least the length ofone such unit, sub-divisions of the successive units indicated thereonin successively laterally spaced positions, means for moving one of saidelements in synchronism with material requiring operations thereon atspaced points and means for moving the other of said elementssimultaneously with the movement of the element moving insynchronismwith said material and at substantially right angles to its direction ofmovement.

9. In spacing apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally movableindex element, units of length indicated thereon, a spacer element,subdivisions of one of such units indicated thereon in successivelylaterally spaced positions, means for moving one of said elements insynchronism with material on which operations are to be performed atspaced points and means for moving said elements simultaneously and atsubstantially right angles to eachother whereby successive indicia onsaid index element travel across said spacer element in one directionand laterally spaced subdivisions thereof coincide with said indiciasuccessively.

10. In spacing apparatus of the character disclosed, a 'work supportingtrack, a movable carriage, an index bar movable with said carriage,means for attaching said carriage to work on said work supporting trackfor simultaneous travel of said work with said carriage and said indexbar, units of length indicated on. said index bar, a spacer templatemovable at substantially right angles relative to said index bar andhaving subdivisions of such unit indicated thereon for regis-' try withthe indicia on said index bar, mechanism for supporting said templateand an operative connection between said carriage and said mechanism forcausing movement of said template in synchronism with movement of saidindex bar.

11. In spacing apparatus of the character disclosed, a, work supportingtrack, a movable carriage, an index bar movable with said carriage,meansfor attaching said carriage to work on said work supporting trackfor simultaneous travel of said work with said carriage and said indexbar, periodic indicia on said index bar, a spacer template movable at anangle relative to said index bar and having sub-divisions of the unit oflength between successive indicia indicated thereon,

mechanism for supporting said template, an operative connection betweensaid carriage and said mechanism'for causing movement of said templatein synchronism with movement of said index bar and means, operableuponsub-divisions means for attaching said carriage to work on said worksupporting track for simultaneous travel of said work with said carriageand said index bar, a machine for periorming operations. on such work,periodic indicia on said index bar, a spacer template. movable atsubstantially right angles relative to said index bar and havingsub-divisions oi the unit oi length between two of said indiciaindicated thereon, mechanism for supporting said template, an operativeconnection between said carriage and said mechanism for causing movement0! said template in synchronism with movement of said-index bar andthereby successive registry of said indicia with said sub-divisions andmeans for moving said carriageand operating said machine while saidcarriage is at rest.

13. In spacing apparatus of the character disclosed, a work supportingtrack, a movable carriage, an index bar movable with said carriage,means for attaching said carriage to work on said .work supporting trackfor simultaneous travel of said work with said carriage and said indexbar, units of length indicated on said index .bar, a spacer templatemovable at an angle relative to saidindex bar and having sub-divisionsor such unit indicated thereon, mechanism ior supporting said template,an operative connection between said carriage and said mechanism forcausingmovement 01 said template in synchronism with movement of saidindex bar and means for moving and stopping said carriage. 14. Apparatusoi the character described comprising a machine ior performingoperations on elongated work, means for supporting such work and movingit longitudinally, an index bar movable with said work and havingperiodic indica;

and moving it longitudinally, an index element having periodic indiciathereon, a spacer element movable laterally oi said index element, meansfor moving one 01 said elements with said work, means for moving saidelements in synchronism with each other, said spacer element havingsubdivisions of the distance-between two indicia indicated thereon forsuccessive registry with said indicia as said index element moveslongitudinally and means for bringing said index element to a rest andoperating said machine automatically when one or said indicia registerswith one of said sub-divisions.

16; Apparatus oi the character described comprising a machine forperforming operations on elongated work, means for supporting said workand moving it longitudinally, an index bar' movable with said work andhaving periodic indicia thereon, a template holder movable laterally ofsaid index bar and in synchronism therewith, a template on saidholderand detachable therefrom, sub-divisions 01 the distance betweentwo indicia indicated on said template for succesone of said indicia andone of said sub-divisions in registry with eachother.

17. Apparatus of the character described comprising a machine 101'performing operations on elongated work, means for supporting said workand moving it longitudinally, an index element having periodic indiciathereon, a holder movable laterally of said index element and insynchronism therewith, a spacer element on said holder, sub-divisions ofthe distance between two adjacent indicia indicated on said spacerelement for successive registry with said indicia as said index elementand holder are moved and means automatically operable for stopping saidwork and operating said machine upon registry of one of said indiciawith one of said sub-divisions and for startng said work after the ma-.chine has operated.

18. Apparatus oi. the character described comprising a machine forperiorming operations on elongated work, means for supporting said workand moving it longitudinally, an index element having periodic indiciathereon, a holder movable laterally of said index element and'insynchronism therewith, a spacer element on said holder comprising asheet of cardboard or the like, means for mounting said cardboard onsaid holder in a predetermined position relative thereto, subdivisionsof the distance" between two adjacent indicia indicated on saidcardboard for successive registry with said indicia as said indexelement moves longitudinally and means ior operating said machine whensaid index element is at rest with one of said indicia and one of saidsub-divisions in registry with mch other and for starting said workafter the machine has operated.

. 19. Apparatus oi the character described comprising a machine forperforming operations on work, means for supporting such work formovement in one direction, an index element having periodic openingstherethrough, a spacer element movable laterally of said index elementand having laterally spaced openings therein ior su'ccessive registrywith the openings in said index element, means for moving one of saidelements in synchronism with said work and light sensitive meansassociated with said index element and said spacer element forautomatically stopping the movement oi" said work and operating saidmachine when an opening of said index element registers with an opening01' said spacer element.

20. Apparatus oi. the character described comprising a machine forperforming operations on work, means for supporting such work formovement in one direction, an index element having periodic openingstherethrough, a spacer element movable laterally of said index elementand having laterally spaced openings therein for successive registrywith the openings in said index element, means for moving one of saidelements in synchronism with said work and light sensitive meansassociated with said index element and said spacer element forautomatically stopping the movement of said work and operating saidmachine when an opening of said index element registers with an openingof said spacer element, the means for stopping said work includingclutch elements therefor and shock absorbing and return mechanism forsaid clutch elements.

21. In spacing apparatus for material requiring operations to beperformed thereon at spaced points, a stationary elongated index barhaving equal units 01' length indicated therealong, a cardlike spacertemplate having subdivisions of one such unit indicated thereon andadapted to travel in synchronism with the material being worked upon andmeans for also moving said template in accordance with the movement saidmaterial whereby successive indicia on the bar are traveled past by saidtemplate, each at a different distance from one side thereof.

22. In combination with a punch press or the like, spacing apparatuscomprising an index element having units of length indicated thereon, aspacer element having sub-divisions of one such unit indicated thereon,means for moving. said spacer element in synchronism with material beingworked upon by said punch press whereby of length indicated thereon, aspacer element hav-' ing sub-divisions of one such unit indicatedthereon, one oi said elements-being adapted to travel in synchronismwith material being worked upon and means for moving said spacer elementin accordance with the movement of said flexible index element relativethereto whereby successive indlcia on the flexible index element travelin one direction across said spacer element and at successivelydifferent distances from an edge thereof substantially parallel with theline of such travel,

24. In spacing apparatus for punch presses and the like, a flexibleindex element having units of length indicated thereon, a spacertemplate element of substantially the length 01 one such unit and havingsub-divisions of such unit indicated thereon, means for moving one ofsaid elements in synchronism with material being worked upon and meansfor moving said spacer template element and said flexible index elementrelatively whereby successive indicia on the flexible index elementtravel across said spacer template element, each at a' diflerentdistance from one side thereof.

25. In spacing apparatus for punch presses and the like, a flexibleindex element having units of length indicated thereon, a spacertemplate element of substantially the length of one such unit and havingsub-divisions or such unit indicated ther'eon, means for moving, one ofsaid elements in synchronism with material being worked upon, means formoving said spacer template element and said flexible index elementrelatively whereby successive indicia on the flexible index elementtravel across said spacer template element, each at a diflerentdistancetrom one side thereof and means for winding up the unusedportion of said flexible index element.

' LLOYD E. ANDERSON.

